8-KOther EventsExhibits & Filings

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. 8-K Report, Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Employee Benefit Plans (Jun 28, 2016)

Filed June 28, 2016For Securities:APD

Summary

This Form 8-K filing by Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. (APD) on June 28, 2016, primarily announces a temporary suspension of trading for participants in the company's Retirement Savings Plan, referred to as a "Blackout Period." This period, scheduled from July 18, 2016, through approximately July 21, 2016, will restrict participants from making changes to their investments in the Air Products Company Stock Fund and from obtaining loans or distributions involving assets in that fund. Furthermore, the filing details that APD's directors and executive officers will be prohibited from trading company stock during this Blackout Period, as mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. While the immediate impact for most investors is the inability to transact within their retirement accounts concerning APD stock, the company provides contact information for obtaining more details about the Blackout Period. Investors should note that this is a procedural event related to employee benefit plans and not indicative of a fundamental change in the company's financial health or strategic direction.

Key Highlights

  • 1Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. announced a 'Blackout Period' affecting its Retirement Savings Plan participants.
  • 2The Blackout Period is scheduled to begin around July 18, 2016, and end around July 21, 2016.
  • 3During this period, participants cannot make investment changes, loans, or distributions related to the Air Products Company Stock Fund within their retirement accounts.
  • 4A key change during this period is the conversion of the Air Products Company Stock Fund to a real-time traded stock fund.
  • 5Company directors and executive officers are prohibited from trading APD common stock during the Blackout Period.
  • 6This trading restriction for insiders is in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act regulations.
  • 7Contact information is provided for individuals seeking further details about the Blackout Period.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 'Blackout Period' is a temporary suspension of trading for participants in Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.'s Retirement Savings Plan. It prevents participants from making changes to their investments in the Air Products Company Stock Fund, or from obtaining loans or distributions involving assets in that fund, during a specific timeframe.

The Blackout Period is necessary due to planned changes in the investment fund options for the Retirement Savings Plan, including the conversion of the Air Products Company Stock Fund to a real-time traded stock fund. This temporary restriction allows for the seamless transition of these changes within the plan administration.

For regular shareholders who do not participate in the APD Retirement Savings Plan, this specific 8-K filing has no direct impact. The Blackout Period applies only to transactions within the company's employee retirement plan and to insider trading restrictions for directors and officers.

If you are a participant in the APD Retirement Savings Plan, you cannot buy or sell your holdings within the Air Products Company Stock Fund in your retirement account during the Blackout Period (July 18-21, 2016). If you hold APD stock in a regular brokerage account or through other means, you can generally still buy or sell it, as this filing does not restrict general market trading.